The documentary that chronicles the murder of a young girl triumphs at the 14th edition of Rome Film Festival

Sainthhod Now (Santa Subito) by Alessandro Piva won the BNL People’s Choice Award at the 14th edition of Rome Film Festival. The audience, who voted the films participating in the Official Selection right after the evening premieres, chose Alessandro Piva’s documentary which chronicles a famous 1990s murder case.

The film chronicles the murder of Santa Scorese, a girl from Bari (Apulia) who was killed at the age of 23. Santa, a girl burning with Christian faith, was murdered by a man she met by chance during parish activities: her killer stalked for three years, following her everywere despite her reports to the police, and finally stabbed her thriteen times on March 15, 1991.

«I heard about Santa Scorese’s story during a public event in which her sister Rosa Maria spoke: her words really had an impact on me, especially when she said that her sister’s stalker could have been stopped long before the murder. The institutions were unprepared to deal with issues such as violence against women or stalking. This story is for the ones who remain, those who have to face their grief alone after such an absurd loss.» The director added: «Sainthood Now tells the story of a self-fulfilling prophecy, it’s the paradigm of many other stories with the same finale. This is my small personal call to not leave women alone, when they are at the mercy of mental illness disguised as love.»

Alessandro Piva started his career as a photgrapher, film editor, screenwriter and then pursued his career as a director focusing on documentaries. His works won him Libero Bizzarri Award, Fedic Special Mention Award at Venice Film Festival and a David di Donatello nomination. As a director he also made four feature films: LaCapaGira (1993), Mio Cognato (2003), Henry (2010) and Milionari (2015).

Alessandro Piva receives the BNL People’s Choice Award at the 14th edition of Rome Film Festival.